John Moresby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Moresby
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| Born | 15 March 1830 Allerford, Somerset, England |
| Died | 12 July 1922 (aged 92) Fareham, Hampshire, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Rank | Rear admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Endymion |
| Relations | Fairfax Moresby (father); L. Adams Beck (daughter) |
Rear Admiral John Moresby (born March 15, 1830 – died July 12, 1922) was a British naval officer. He explored the coast of New Guinea and was the first European to discover the place that is now Port Moresby.
Life as an Explorer
John Moresby was born in Allerford, Somerset, England. His father, Fairfax Moresby, was also a famous admiral in the navy. John joined the navy when he was quite young.
He became the captain of a large ship called HMS Basilisk. This ship was a special kind of paddle steamer that used big wheels to move through the water. Captain Moresby used HMS Basilisk to map the eastern coast of New Guinea.
Discovering Port Moresby
While exploring the southern coast of New Guinea, John Moresby found a great natural harbor. He named this harbor Fairfax, in honor of his father. A town later grew up there, near some local villages like Hanuabada. This town was named Port Moresby, and today it is the capital city of Papua New Guinea.
John Moresby was also looking for a faster way for ships to travel between Australia and China. At the eastern tip of New Guinea, he discovered a narrow passage of water. He named this important route the China Strait. He continued exploring along the northwest coast, reaching as far as the Huon Gulf.
In 1876, Moresby took command of another ship, HMS Endymion. He stayed in this role for about two years. He was later promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. John Moresby passed away in 1922 in Fareham, Hampshire, England.
His Family
In 1859, John Moresby married Jane Willis Scott from Queenstown, Ireland. They had six children together:
- Walter Halliday Moresby (1861–1951), who became a lawyer.
- Elizabeth Louisa Moresby (1862–1931), who became a well-known writer.
- Ethel Fortescue Moresby (born 1865).
- Georgina Moresby (1867–1953).
- Hilda Fairfax Moresby (1868–1893), who sadly drowned in an accident.
- Gladys Moresby (born 1870).
